Region of Central Macedonia Investment Profile March2018 Contents 1. Profile of the Region of Central Macedonia 2. Central Macedonia’s competitive advantages 3. Investment Opportunities 1. Profile of the Region of Central Macedonia 2. Central Macedonia’s competitive advantages 3. Investment Opportunities 4. Investment Incentives Region of Central Macedonia: Quick facts (I) Central Macedonia, a region in Northern Greece, includes the Regional Units of Halkidiki, Imathia, Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres and Thessaloniki •The region of Central Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece consisting of the central part of the geographical and historical region of Macedonia. •The region is the largest and second most populous in Greece after Attica, with a population of almost 1.9 million. •On the north it borders with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, while in Greece borders on the east with the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, on the west with the region of Western Macedonia, and on the southwest with the region of Thessaly. •Along with East Macedonia and Thrace, it is supervised by the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace which is based in Thessaloniki. The region is based at its capital city of Thessaloniki •The Region has a total area of about 18,810 square kilometers of which 3,683 km² occupied4. Investment by the prefecture Incentives of Thessaloniki, 3 ,968 km² by the prefecture of Serres, 1,516 km² by the prefecture of Pieria, 1,701 km² by the prefecture of Imathia, 1,581 km² by the prefecture of Kilkis, 2,506 km² by the prefecture of Pella and 2,918 km² by the prefecture of Halkidiki •Key cities include namely Thessaloniki, Serres, Katerini, Veroia, Giannitsa, Kilkis, Naousa, Edessa. Region of Central Macedonia : Quick facts (II) Demographics and Workforce quick facts Population: 1.882.108 (2011) 17.4% of the total Greek population Main macroeconomic data of the Region of Central Macedonia 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 GDP* 25,807 24,172 23,771 23,716 n.a. GDP per capita** n.a. 4. Investment Incentives13,458 12,669 12,520 12,557 Gross fixed capital formation* 4,490 3,193 3,026 3,009 n.a. Unemployment 26.2 30.2 28.75 26.0 24.5 Rate (%) *In million euros **In euros Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority Significant performance indicators Gross Value Added by Industry 2015 (Region of Central Macedonia) Industry/ Sector Gross Value Added (amount in % in total GVA of the Region million euro) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 1,279 6.1 Mining, energy, water supply and 548 2.6 waste management Manufacturing 2,601 12.4 Construction 432 2.1 Trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service 4,953 23.6 activities Information and Communication 462 2.2 Financial and Insurance activities 744 3.6 4.Real Investment Estate activities Incentives3,004 14.3 Scientific, administrative and support 814 3.9 service activities Public administration, education, health and social work activities 5,049 24.1 Arts, recreation and other service 1,058 5.1 activities Total 20,944 100 Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority data processed by Enterprise Greece 1. Profile of the Region of Central Macedonia 2. Central Macedonia’s competitive advantages 3. Investment Opportunities 4. Investment Incentives Natural and Cultural Treasures The Region of Central Macedonia is mainly a lowland area with many rivers. Central Macedonia is a unique land with a long history and continuous human presence from Prehistoric times. Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. It is located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, between the regional units of Pieria and Larissa. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks, deep gorges, and exceptional biodiversity. The highest peak, Mytikas, rises to 2,918 metres and is one of the highest peaks in Europe in terms of topographic prominence. The Voras Mountains are a mountain range situated on the border between Greece and FYROM. It separates the Pella regional unit on the Greek side in the south from the Mariovo region on the FYROM side in the north. The tallest peak in the range is Kaimakchalan at 2,524 m. Ancient sites include the Dion archaeological Park, the archaeological museum of Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai) and the ancient agora in Pella, the biggest agora of the ancient world. Agricultural Production •The agricultural sector has always been one of the major production areas in the Region of Central Macedonia. •The primary sector of the region participates by 26% in gross value added of the primary sector at national level •Productions of the primary sector in which the Central Macedonia has a leading role in Greece are: Fruits (peaches, apples, kiwi, cherries, apricots, grapes, pears etc.), table olives, cotton, rice, grains, vegetables (tomato, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, pepper etc.) fodder plants, beef cows' milk sheep and goat milk eggs and bird meat pork honey. •The Wine Roads of Northern Greece include eight routes which begin in the west. Five routes have been developed in the Region of Central Macedonia: the Wine Route of Pella- Goumenissa, the Wine Route of the Olympian Gods, the Wine Route of Naoussa, the Wine Route of Thessaloniki and the Wine Route of Halkidiki. •With more than 6,500 beekeepers and an annual production of 1910 tons of honey, Chalkidiki accounts for 32% of the total production of honey in Greece. Education and research (Ι) •The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.TH.) is the sixth oldest and among the most highly ranked tertiary education institutions in Greece. It is named after the philosopher Aristotle. •The University was founded in 1925 and is the largest university in Greece and in the Balkans. It was the second Greek university to be founded after the University of Athens, which was established in 1837. • The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki performs a great deal of research in a variety of scientific fields. It is in constant and close cooperation with universities, organizations and research centres both in Greece and abroad. The large number of its faculties and its approximately 250 laboratories enable scientists of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to carry out a variety of research projects with great success. • The Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia was founded in 1983 and is located in the city of Serres. It consists of three schools: the School of Technological Applications, the School of Administration and Economics and the School of Graphic Arts and Design. • The Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki is a higher education public institute, part of the Greek tertiary education system, specialized on applied sciences. It was founded in 1970 and started its operation in February 1974 as a Center for Higher Technical Education. Education and research (ΙΙ) Faculty of Theology School of Theology School of Pastoral and Social Theology Faculty of Philosophy School of Philology School of History and Archaeology School of Philosophy and Education School of Psychology School of English Language and Literature School of French Language and Literature School of German Language and Literature School of Italian Language and Literature Faculty of Sciences School of Mathematics School of Physics School of Chemistry School of Biology School of Geology School of Informatics Source: https://www.auth.gr Education and research (ΙΙI) Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences School of Economics School of Political Sciences School of Journalism and Mass Communications Faculty of Health Sciences School of Medicine School of Veterinary Medicine School of Dentistry School of Pharmacy Faculty of Engineering School of Civil Engineering School of Architecture School of Rural and Surveying Engineering School of Mechanical Engineering School of Electrical and Computer Engineering School of Chemical Engineering School of Spatial Planning and Development Source: https://www.auth.gr Education and research (ΙV) Faculty of Education School of Primary Education School of Early Childhood Education Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences School of Physical Education and Sports Science School of Physical Education and Sports Science in Serres Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment School of Agriculture School of Forestry and Natural Environment Faculty of Fine Arts School of Visual and Applied Arts School of Music Studies School of Drama School of Film Studies Faculty of Law School of Law Source: https://www.auth.gr Education and research (V) Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia Faculty of Applied Technology Faculty of Administration & Economics Faculty of Interior Architecture, Decoration & Design Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki Faculty of Technological Applications Faculty of Technology of Food and Nutrition Faculty of Health and Medical Care Faculty of Management and Economics University of Macedonia School of Business Administration School of Information Sciences School of Social Sciences, Humanities And Arts School of Economic and Regional Studies International Hellenic University Source: https://www.auth.gr http://www.teicm.gr/index.php?lang=en https://www.teithe.gr/ http://www.uom.gr/index.php?newlang=eng https://www.ihu.edu.gr/index.php Transport Infrastructure The Region is served by one international airport and one international port in Thessaloniki, the national highway, the “Egnatia Road” that extends from Polimylos to Strimonas and the railway network that passes through the entire